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Terminology
In the dojo it's traditional to receive a lot of instructions in Japanese. Although the phrases can be confusing at the start, you learn them rapidly, starting with 'Hai!' - the emphatic 'Yes!' that you should use to acknowledge your Sensei.
Japanese Phrases | English Meaning |
DOJO (Dough-Joe) | School or training location |
KARATEKA (Car-at-ay-car) | Karate Student |
SENSEI (Sen-say) | Teacher or Instructor |
SEMPAI (Sem-pie) | Assistant to the Sensei |
SEIZA (Say-za) | Sit (formal fashion) |
REI (Ray) | Bow |
MOKUSO (Mok-sow) | Close your eyes |
MOKUSO YAME (Mok-sow-ya-may) | Open your eyes |
AUTAGANE (Au-ta-ga-ney) | Everybody |
HAI (Hy) | Yes! |
You should respond with 'Hai' immediately when you are called by your Sensei (or Sempai) and when you understand an instruction. | |
KUMITE (Koo-mit-tay) | Sparring with an opponent |
YOI (Yoy) | Ready stance - standing in parallel stance |
KIAI (Key-eye) | Shout of spirit |
KIME (Kim-ay) | Ready or take position |
HAJIME (Ha-gim-ay) | Begin |
YAME (Ya-may) | Stop |
TSUKI (Zu-ki) | Punch |
UCHI (Oo-chi) | Strike |
UKE (Oo-Kay) | Block |
GERI (Ge-ri) | Kick |
JODAN (Joe-dan) | Head level |
CHUDAN (Chew-dan) | Stomach level |
GEDAN (Ge-dan) | Groin level |
Punches and Strikes | |
CHUDAN TSUKI (Chew-dan-zu-ki) | Stomach level punch |
JODAN TSUKI (Joe-dan-zu-ki) | Head level punch |
URA UCHI (Oo-rar-oo-chi) | Back fist strike |
HAITO UCHI (Hi-toe-oo-chi) | Ridge hand strike |
SHITA TSUKI (Shi-ta-zu-ki) | Short punch |
HIJI ATE (Hi-gee Ar-tay) | Rising elbow strike |
MAWASHI EMPI (Ma-washy-em-pee) | Round elbow strike |
SHUTO UCHI (Shoe-toe-oo-chi) | Knife hand strike |
OI TSUKI (Oy-zu-ki) | Lunge punch |
GYAKU TSUKI (Gi-aku-zu-ki) | Reverse punch |
Blocks | |
JODAN AGE UKE (Joe-dan-ar-gi-oo-kay) | Rising head level block |
UCHI UKE (Oo-chi-oo-kay) | Inside hooking block |
SOTO UKE (s-oto-oo-kay) | Outside hooking block |
GEDAN BARAI (Ge-dan Bar-eye) | Downwards block |
GEDAN UKE (Ge-dan-oo-kay) | Sweeping block |
CHUGE UKE (Chew-gi-oo-kay) | Double block |
KAKE UKE (Car-key-oo-kay) | Open hand hooking block |
MAWASHI UKE (Ma-washy-oo-kay) | Round block |
SHUTO UKE (Shoe-toe-oo-kay) | Knife hand block |
Stances
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HEIKO DACHI (Hay-kow-dutch) | Parallel stance |
ZENKUTSU DACHI (Zen-koot-sue-dutch) | Long forward stance |
KIBA DACHI (Key-ba-dutch) | Horse riding stance |
SHIKO DACHI (She-kow-dutch) | Sumo stance |
KOKUTSU DACHI (Kow-koot-sue-dutch) | Back leaning stance |
SANCHIN DACHI (Sun-shin-dutch) | Pigeon toed / Hourglass stance |
NEKOASHI DACHI (Neck-o-ashy-dutch) | Cat stance |
Kicks | |
MAE GERI (May-gery) | Front kick |
MAWASHI GERI (Mar-washy-gery) | Round kick |
YOKO GERI (Yo-kow-gery) | Side kick |
USHIRO GERI (You-shiro-gery) | Back kick |
Kata
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KATA (Car-ta) | A set sequence of techniques against imaginary opponents. |
BUNKAI (Bunk-eye) | The application of kata techniques against actual opponents. |
TAIGYOKU SHODAN (Tay-ig-yo-koo-show-dan) | Basics drill number 1 |
TAIGYOKU NIDAN (Tay-ig-yo-koo-knee-dan) | Basics drill number 2 |
HEIAN SHODAN (Hi-anne Show-dan) | Peaceful mind number 1 |
HEIAN GODAN (Hi-anne Go-dan) | Peaceful mind number 5 |
SAIFA (Sigh-far) | Tearing |
BASSAI-DAI (Ba-sigh-die) | Storming the fortress |
SEIUNCHIN (Say-oon-chin) | Control, suppress, pull |
ENPI (En-pee) | Flight of a swallow |
SEIPAI (Say-eye) | 18 Hands |
KANKU-DAI (Kun-koo-die) | Viewing the Sky |
SANCHIN (San-chin) |
Three battles |
SANSEIRU (San-say-roo) | 36 Hands |
BASSAI SHO (Ba-sigh Show) | Storming the fortress |
SHISOCHIN (She-so-chin) | Four directions battle |
SEISAN (Say-san) | 13 Hands |
GOJUSHIHO SHO (Go-joo-she-ho Show) | 54 steps |
MEIKYO (May-key-oh) | Brightly polished mirror |
KURURUNFA (Kuh-ruh-roon-far) | Holding on and striking suddenly |
TENSHO (Ten-show) | Revolving hands |
NIJUSHIHO (Nee-joo-she-ho) | 24 Steps |
SOCHIN (Soh-chin) | Rooted |
SUPARENPEI (Soo-par-en-pay) | 108 Hands |
UNSU (Oon-soo) | Cloud hands |
Numbers
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ICHI (Itch) | One |
NI (Nee) | Two |
SAN (San) | Three |
SHI (Shee) | Four |
GO (Go) | Five |
ROKU (Rook) | Six |
SHICHI (Shitch) | Seven |
HACHI (Hutch) | Eight |
KU (Koo) | Nine |
JU (Joo) | Ten |
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